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Wheelock Electric

Photo: Art Sidner

Janesville: Wheelock Electric

“When I was growing up, my dad was my biggest influence,” said 28-year-old Jon Wheelock in a Connect Business Magazine telephone interview. He began Wheelock Electric about a year ago. “My dad worked as a custodian and farmed, and taught me what work was all about. He said you can’t sit back and wait for things to come to you, you just have to go out and make it happen.”

Wheelock was a three-sport athlete in high school, and from sports learned the importance of being on time, finishing projects, and being dedicated. He began working for an electrician part-time while in high school. From there, he went on to Minnestota West Community & Technical College in Jackson, where he learned his trade.

“I then worked for Ruch Electric my whole career until going out on my own last year,” he said. “From Rick Ruch, I learned there was a field way (to do electrical work) and a school way. You can learn only so much from a book and classroom. He taught me everything beyond that.”

He said customers hiring electricians should first consider workmanship. Any electrician can do the wiring you need, but the neatness of their work is what sets electricians apart. He said being on time, doing what was promised, and communicating with customers were also important characteristics for customers to consider.

“I like the freedom of being my own boss,” he said, “and I like the variety. Some weeks I am going strong 50 hours and other weeks I’m cleaning out the van half the time. Business has been going in spurts, and part of that for me is my being new.”


Wheelock earned his Master Electrician license in 2008. Wheelock does “pretty much anything” from wiring houses to commercial and farm buildings.

Wheelock Electric
Telephone: 507-380-9178
Web: wheelockelectric.com

Daniel Vance

A former Editor of Connect Business Magazine